LONG DISTANCE WORK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19847, 23 May 1927, Page 7

LONG DISTANCE WORK

PROPOSED BROADCASTING BRITAIN TO DOMINIONS BY THE BEAM. (By Radio). RUGBY, May 20. The British Broadcasting Corporation is considering a proposal of broadcasting to the Dominions, and is approach representatives of the Domininos to ascertain their views and see how far the Dominions are prepared to co-operate in the venture. It is stated that it is contemplated to use the present beam wireless services to the Dominions, which are quite cabable of telephonic, simultaneously with telegraphic, transmission. DIFFICULTIES CONSIDERABLE EXPERIMENTS BEING MADE LONDON PROGRAMMES FOR NEW ZEALAND Received May 23, 1 a.m. (A. & N.Z.) LONDON. May 22. The possibility of Empire broadcasting was privately discussed at the Colonial Conference, in consultation with Post Office technical advisers and Mr Langley, who was responsible for tho success of the Australian beam station. No decision is announced but it is understood that emphasis was laid on the three major difficulties: the varying times, finance, and technicalities. It was admitted that as soon as beam telephony to Australia was achieved Antipodean broadcasting would be theoretically possible, but the British Broadcasting Company asked whether the Dominions will pay for expensive programmes broadcast rrom England at hours corresponding to the Dominions’ normal listening-in periods, whether the Dominion stations will consent to relay British in preference to their own programmes, and whether British license payers will consent to their fees going to benefit a comparatively small number of Dominion listeners-in. Experts agree that once the phase of curiosity has passed the only demand will be for outstanding events like King’s and members of Cabinet speeches and international cricket, tennis and Rugby for which people in the Dominions stay up late and rise early. However, the first essential is perfect beam telephony. There are hopes of success in the service to Australia, because it is the only one with alternative routes. Furthermore, a short wave and low power will minimise distortion. Encouraging secret vocal tests hive been carried out, but more sensitive apparatus is required which Marconi’s are now manufacturing and hope to ship to Australia in a few weeks.

There is a possibility of the British Broadcasting Company erecting a small experimental station. They point out ihat telephony to Australia will not be prohibitive, because it will use only a fraction of the Rugby plant, and will probably not need its elaborate apparatus.